Introduction to Formation
Evaluation
By
Abiodun Matthew Amao
Monday, September 09, 2013
Well Logging PGE 492
Lecture Outline
What is formation evaluation?
Why do we evaluate formation?
What do we evaluate?
What data are we interested in?
Who needs these data?
What tools and methodology?
Summary
References
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Well Logging PGE 492
What is formation evaluation?
Formation evaluation is the application of scientific
principles, engineering concepts and technological
innovations in the exploration and prospecting of
hydrocarbon resources in geological formations in an
environmentally sustainable and responsible manner.
It involves detailed and systematic data acquisition,
gathering, analysis and interpretation both qualitatively
and quantitatively while applying scientific and
engineering principles.
It is an ever growing and evolving field of petroleum
engineering
Petrophysicists are engineers or geologists that
specialize in the profession of formation evaluation.
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Why do we evaluate formation?
We want answers to the following questions:
Is there any oil or gas there?
Where are they located?
How much of it?
How much can we produce, which answers the
question, How much money can we make?
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Well Logging PGE 492
What do we evaluate?
We evaluate a reservoir; a reservoir is the
container storing the hydrocarbon.
A conventional reservoir will be characterized
by the following properties;
Trap/Cap Rock
Source Rock
Porous and Permeable media
Hydrocarbons (Gas or Oil)
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Well Logging PGE 492
What data are we interested in?
Rock Type
Porosity
Fluid Saturation (Volumes)
Fluid Type
Reservoir Structure
Permeability (Ease of fluid flow within porous media)
Reservoir Pressure (Drive)
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Scale in Formation Evaluation
Order of Magnitude
(Meters)
Formation Evaluation Technique
Purpose
106
Satellite Imagery
105
Basin Geologic Studies
104
Seismic, gravity, magnetics
103
Borehole gravimeter, Ultra long
spacing electric logs
Local Structure
102
Drill Stem Tests
Productivity and Reserves
101
Wireline Formation tests
100
10-1
Full diameter cores (Whole Core) Local Porosity, permeability
and Lithology
Sidewall cores, LWD, Wireline
10-2
Core-plug analysis, micro-logs
10-3
Cutting analysis, mud logging
Local Hydrocarbon Content
10-4
Core analysis
Rock Properties
10-5
X-ray mineralogy
Rock and clay typing
10-6
Scanning Electron Microscope
Micro-structure
Gross Structure
Who Needs What Data?
Discipline
Data
Geophysicist
Time-Depth relationship for seismic profile
Geologist
Stratigraphy, Structural Sedimentary features,
Mineralogy, bedding planes
Reservoir Engineer
Porosity, permeability, fluid contacts, reservoir
pressure, producibility
Drilling Engineer
Reservoir targets, offset log data if any
Production Engineer
Rock mechanical properties, reservoir pressures,
flow potential, flow assurance issues, fluid types
Manager
Hydrocarbon in place, recoverability, cost of
development, profitability
Government
(Regulator)
Keeps a record of All data, field development plan
(FDP), Profitability for the national economy
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Well Logging PGE 492
What tools and methodology?
Seismic
Survey
Well
Testing
Mud
Logging
(PTA)
Formation
Evaluation
Formation
Fluid
Sampling
MWD/LWD
Coring and
Core
Analysis
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Well Logging PGE 492
Wireline
Logging
Data from Seismic Survey
Vertical Seismic profile of the earth
Structure of reservoir
Location of traps and seals
Depth of structure and geologic layer
Presence of fluids
3D high resolution surveys
Time Lapse seismic (4D Seismic)
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10
Seismic surveys
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11
Data from Mud Logging
Mud logging: Analyzing, evaluating and monitoring
drill cuttings and circulating mud during the drilling
process. Data we can get include;
Lithology, mineralogy and their estimated depths
Hydrocarbon shows and type
Chromatographic analysis of gas
Hazardous gas e.g. H2S
Rate of penetration
Fossil record
Overpressure zones
Drill cutting porosity
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Mud Logging Units
Mud Log
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13
Data From MWD/LWD
Measurement While Drilling (MWD) and Logging While
Drilling (LWD) : These describes continuous measurement
taken by down-hole sensors during drilling. The tools (subs)
are made up with the BHA (bore hole assembly) drill string. It
is an indirect measurement. Data gotten;
Porosity, Lithology
Acoustic
Formation Pressure and Temperature
Resistivity
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
Hole deviation from vertical, azimuth from geographic coord.
Tool face angle, ROP etc.
Gamma Ray
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Well Logging PGE 492
14
MWD/LWD Tools
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Well Logging PGE 492
15
Data from Wireline Logging
Most versatile of the formation evaluation methods, it is an
indirect measurement; we can get the following data;
Open Hole Logging
Cased Hole Logging
Porosity
Fluid Sample (Types)
Water Saturation
Hydrocarbon movability
Lithology
Formation dip and structure
Sedimentary Environment
Travel times of elastic waves
Permeability
Fracture and Vugs
Rock mechanical properties
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Flow rates
Fluid types
Pressure
Residual oil saturation
Cement evaluation (Bonding)
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16
Truck, Skid, Tools and Cable
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17
Data from Core Analysis
Coring: Get unaltered formation sample, bring it to the
surface with its native fluid, preserve both and transport to a
laboratory for detailed analysis.
Conventional Coring- Used of core bit and BHA
Wireline Cores: Sidewall core guns and Rotary sidewall coring tool
Data gotten from cores are; (These are direct measurements
done on the core samples)
Routine core analysis: Porosity, Permeability, Lithology, grain
density, Fluid saturation etc.
Special core analysis: Relative permeability, pore-size
distribution, mineralogy, SEM, CT-Scan, Electrical properties,
mechanical properties, Capillary pressure, etc.
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Tools for Coring on Different
Scale
Sidewall Core Guns
Core bits
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19
Data from Fluid Sampling
Reservoir fluid is sampled using the following methodology;
Drill stem testing (DST) or Production Tests
Wireline formation testers
LWD Formation Testers
Surface Samples at the wellhead or separator
Data acquired include;
Fluid Type,
PVT data, Fluid Composition from Lab tests
Pressure and temperature
Viscosity, GOR, API
Asphaltene and wax content
Presence of H2S
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Formation
Tester
Telemetry
Hydraulics
Electronics
Packer
Drawdown / Pump
Large Volume Pump
Tank Carrier
Borehole Exit
V.P.C.
Extraction manifold
Tank
Tank
Well Testing
(Pressure Transient Analysis)
Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA), is the recording of
variation of pressure with time through a wellbore in a
reservoir after a disturbance (shut-in, open to flow
etc.) to normal well operations. It is also called;
Well Testing
Flow Tests
Well testing is possible because pressure and flow rate
can easily be measured in a well and an analysis of the
measurement history reflects reservoir parameters.
Pressure measurement can be;
Static (one time measurement)
Last the Duration of a Well test
Continuous e.g. Downhole pressure gauges in wells
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Reservoir Properties Obtainable from Various Tests
Well Test
Reservoir Properties Obtainable
Drill Stem Tests
Reservoir Behavior, Skin, Permeability, Fracture
Length, Reservoir pressure, reservoir limit,
boundaries
Drawdown Tests
Reservoir Behavior, Skin, Permeability, Fracture
Length, reservoir limit, boundaries.
Buildup Tests
Reservoir Behavior, Skin, Permeability, Fracture
Length, Reservoir pressure, boundaries
Step-rate Tests
Formation parting pressure, Permeability, Skin
Falloff Tests
Mobility in various banks, Skin, Reservoir pressure,
Fracture length, Location of fronts, boundaries.
Interference and Pulse Test
Communication between wells, Reservoir behavior,
porosity, Interwell permeability, vertical
permeability
Layered Reservoir Tests
Properties of individual layers, Horizontal K, Vertical
K, Skin, Average layer pressure, outer boundaries
Multiple
Formation
Monday,
September
09, 2013
Testers
Pressure
profilePGE 493
Well Test Analysis
23
Typical Well Test
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Summary
Lots of evaluation tools are available in petroleum
engineering, engineers have to be aware of these
tools, the data and the scale of the acquired data,
relative to the reservoir.
It is best to integrate all available data when
analyzing Petrophysical data; the whole picture must
be consistent.
Different companies have different names for their
proprietary tool, but tools scientific principles are
the same.
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References
Richard Bateman, Open-hole Log Analysis and Formation Evaluation,
IHRDC Publishers New York
Crombe et. Al., Innovations in Fluid Sampling, Schlumberger Oilfield
Review, Autumn 1998.
Baker Atlas Training Manual, Montrose Training Center, Montrose
Scotland, 2001.
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Introduction to Formation
Evaluation
By
Abiodun Matthew Amao
Monday, September 09, 2013
Well Logging PGE 492
27
